Grand Rapids paraeducator Jason Heemstra used to be the sort of union member who questioned and complained without getting involved. Maybe that’s why he’s such an effective advocate for MEA today. Two years ago, Heemstra quit grousing and stepped up to act in his ESP unit. He ran for building representative and won, then got…
DetailsThere is no neutral ground when it comes to issues of systemic racism and oppression—everyone must take a stance, according to Dr. Chezare Warren, a former teacher and administrator in Chicago Public Schools, now a faculty member at Michigan State University. Social justice, diversity, inclusion. “They’re not just pretty buzzwords,” Warren told a crowd of…
DetailsSeveral students from Ann Arbor’s Skyline High School recently demonstrated a grasp on how to resolve conflict that many adults could learn from. In fact, the teenagers did teach their elders in October when four representatives from Skysquad—a student-led restorative justice team—presented at an international conference in Detroit attended by professionals from all over the…
DetailsBy Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA member Amy McLoughlin didn’t like school when she was young. Growing up in rural Ohio, she was “that kid in the back of the room interrupting the flow,” voted class clown, a bright girl disengaged, she says. In high school, she skipped a lot but showed up for…
DetailsWeek 3 of Lame Duck wrapped up with little action. After their late night/early morning session on Wednesday, the State House did not hold session during the day on Thursday. The Senate was in session, but took no action on any bills MEA has been monitoring, including union recertification, innovative schools or teacher prep. The…
DetailsMore than 100 MEA and AFT Michigan members and leaders held a candlelight vigil outside the Capitol on Wednesday evening and later went inside to lobby their representatives and watch from the gallery as a controversial A-F school grading bill narrowly passed the state House in amended form. In other action, the chamber approved HB…
DetailsEAST LANSING – The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding the State House’s passage of HB 5526: “Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed another so-called ‘education reform’ bill that does nothing to support struggling schools or increase student achievement. HB 5526, mandating A-F letter grades for Michigan schools, would abandon…
DetailsA bill to keep standardized test scores from taking on even greater importance in the lives of teachers and students in Michigan passed the state House on Wednesday following a months-long push by MEA and other education groups. Hundreds of educators and parents have contacted legislators in support of House Bill 5707, a measure that would keep…
DetailsA late night session in the House (adjourned at 3:20a) saw two education bills head to the State Senate for consideration. A-F Rating System The A-F bill (HB 5526) passed by a narrow margin. Thanks to the lobbying outreach by educators (including more than 100 who attended last night’s vigil and lobbied representatives), the provision…
DetailsAn unsettling experience being trapped on an elevator in the Michigan Capitol morphed into a moment of inspiration for four Ypsilanti high school students touring the Capitol with classmates and their government teacher, a local MEA leader. The Lincoln High School students were part of an all-female group observing the Legislature on Tuesday during the…
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